Latest news with #Malacañang
GMA Network
2 days ago
- Business
- GMA Network
Singapore PM Wong to have bilateral talks with Marcos in PH visit
Malacañang on Monday announced that Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong would make his first official visit to the Philippines upon the invitation of President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. The Presidential Communications Office stated Wong's visit would take place on June 4 to 5, 2025. Marcos and Wong are expected to have a bilateral meeting and discuss key areas in their relations, such as health, climate change mitigation, and civil service cooperation. The two leaders will also exchange views on political and economic issues of significance to the region, according to the PCO. Singapore is the country's 8th largest trading partner in 2024 and is currently home to an estimated 220,000 Filipinos. The Philippines is the first bilateral visit of the Singaporean leader after his reappointment in May. This visit also marks Wong's introductory visit to Manila. To recall, the two leaders had a bilateral meeting at the sidelines of the 2024 IISS Shangri-La Dialogue wherein Marcos was a keynote speaker. Marcos and Wong also participated in the 46th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia last week. —LDF, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
23-05-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Angara continues work as DepEd chief as opening of classes nears
A day after submitting his courtesy resignation, Education Secretary Sonny Angara continues to fulfill the duties of the chief of the Department of Education as the opening of classes nears. 'Tuloy tuloy lang po ang pagtatrabaho ng ating kalihim, full blast ang ating preparations para sa nalalapit na pagbubukas ng bagong school year natin in less than a month,' Angara's media relations officer Dennis Legaspi said in a Viber message to reporters on Friday. (Our secretary's work continues, our preparations are in full blast for the upcoming opening of our new school year in less than a month.) According to Legaspi, Angara will join President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. in Laoag, Ilocos Norte on Saturday for the opening of the annual Palarong Pambansa. Asked if DepEd will continue with its programs despite the courtesy resignation ordered by the President, Legaspi answered in the affirmative. 'Yes po. Habang wala pa namang aksyon ang Malacañang sa courtesy resignation na ipinasa kahapon, tuloy tuloy po ang lahat ng programa ng DepEd,' he said. (While Malacañang has not yet taken action on the courtesy resignation that was submitted yesterday, all DepEd programs will continue.) On Thursday, Marcos called on his Cabinet members to submit their courtesy resignation, which Angara adhered to. The Education Department has set the opening of classes for public schools on June 16. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
23-05-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Palace: Marcos to decide on Cabinet members' courtesy resignations swiftly
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. is expected to have a quick decision on the courtesy resignations filed by Cabinet members, according to Malacañang on Friday. 'Hindi ko masasabi yung timeline pero ang sabi nga ng Pangulo gusto niya mabilis. So, dapat mabilisan din ito. Makakaasa sila na mas mabilis ang pagde-decide patungkol dito,' Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro told GMA Integrated News' Unang Balita in an interview. (I can't tell the timeline, but the President said he wants it to be urgent. So, the decision should be quick too. They can expect a quicker decision on this.) Castro added the President is considering 'performance' and 'absence of corruption' in deciding who will stay as Cabinet officials. 'Unang-una, siyempre, ayaw ng mabagal ng Pangulo. Yan ang nireklamo niya, ayaw niya maging mabagal ang trabaho ng administration. At the same time, may mga issues ng korapsyon. So isa yan,' she said. (The President doesn't want things to be slow. That's what he complained about, he doesn't want the administration's work to be slow. At the same time, there are issues of corruption, so that's one thing.) 'So performance, saka dapat maging malinis ang trabaho ng mga Gabinete, dapat walang korap,' she added. (Performance, then the work of the Cabinet should be efficient, there should be no corruption.) Marcos on Thursday directed the courtesy resignations of Cabinet secretaries to "recalibrate" his administration after the 2025 national and local elections. He earlier said that results of the May 2025 midterm polls showed that the people are "tired of politics and they are disappointed with the government." Of the 12 newly elected senators in Eleksyon 2025, six were endorsed by Marcos under the Alyansa Para Sa Bagong Pilipinas including Erwin Tulfo, Panfilo 'Ping' Lacson, Vicente 'Tito' Sotto III, Pia Cayetano, Camille Villar, and Lito Lapid. Heeding the call of Marcos, some Cabinet secretaries have already submitted their courtesy resignations. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
Filipino Times
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Filipino Times
Malacañang to Roque: tracking fugitives is a duty, not political persecution
Malacañang rejected former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque's claim that the government is wasting public resources by pursuing him, stressing that tracking fugitives is a lawful responsibility, not political persecution. Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said Roque appears to be the only one insisting on that narrative, noting that even his former ally Salvador Panelo has distanced himself from such claims. 'Mukhang si Atty. Harry Roque na lang naman ang naniniwala sa kaniyang pananaw na may political persecution,' Castro said in a briefing. he added: 'Ang kaniyang pagsama-sama sa mga Duterte ay ginagawa niyang panangga para patunayan na mayroong political persecution, pero kahit na ang kaniyang dating naging kaalyado ay hindi naniniwala sa kaniyang mga tinuran.' Castro pointed out that if Roque were genuinely concerned about government funds, he should have acted more responsibly during his time in office. 'Ang paghahanap ng isang fugitive ay hindi pag-aaksaya ng oras… Kung siya ay concerned sa pondo ng bayan, dapat noon pa 'yan—noong 2016 pa,' she said. 'At kung sinasabi nga niya na siya ay concerned sa pondo ng bayan, hindi ba mas maganda kung magboluntaryo na siyang umuwi rito?' Roque, who is reportedly seeking asylum in the Netherlands, faces a standing arrest warrant from the Pampanga Regional Trial Court for qualified human trafficking. He is charged alongside Cassandra Ong and at least 48 others in connection with an alleged offshore gaming scam linked to Lucky South 99. The Department of Justice earlier said it is preparing to request an Interpol red notice to locate and arrest Roque. DOJ spokesperson Mico Clavano affirmed that the government remains committed to pursuing justice for the victims.
GMA Network
21-05-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Palace: Reconciliation shouldn't come with conditions, centered on Dutertes
Following the statement of President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. that he is open to reconcile with the Dutertes, Malacañang stressed that the offer of reconciliation should not come with any conditions. ''Opo, ito man po ay para sa taumbayan at para sa bansa,'' Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said in a briefing when asked if the reconciliation should not come with conditions. (Yes, this is for the public and for our country.) Castro also said the reconciliation should not center on the Duterte family. She also pointed out that in this reconciliation, the President will not disregard the rule of law as he will always abide by it. ''Tandaan po natin, huwag po tayo magfocus sa sinasabing open for reconciliation para lamang sa mga Duterte. Maliwanag po ang sinabi ng Pangulo, sa lahat ng tao na maaaring hindi kapareho ng kanyang paniniwala o ng prinsipyo o ng polisiya,'' Castro said. (Let's remember, let's not focus on the Dutertes regarding the President's openness for reconciliation. The remarks of the President were clear, it's for everybody whom he doesn't share the same values, principles, and policies with.) ''Mas maganda kung ang lahat ng tao ay makakasundo niya para po sa taumbayan, para magkaroon na po ng tuloy-tuloy na pagtratrabaho para sa bansa. So huwag nating i-sentro ang open for reconciliation sa mga Duterte. Hindi po gagawin ng Pangulo na lumabag sa batas para lamang sa isang rekonsilyasyon,'' she added. (It's better if he is in good relations with everyone for the welfare of the public and for the continuity of governance. So, let's not center this openness to reconciliation on the Dutertes. The President will not break the law just for this reconciliation.) The Palace official said Marcos would always ''choose'' the law over ''friends.'' ''Hindi po tatalikuran at babaligtarin ng Pangulo ang batas para lamang pagsilbihan ang personal na interes ng iilan. So, tandaan po natin, lagi pong sa batas ang Pangulo. Kaibigan o batas? Batas pa rin po ang pipiliin ng Pangulo,'' she said. (The President will not disregard the law just to serve the interest of others. The President will always side with the law. Friends or law? The President will choose the law.) In a podcast with broadcaster Anthony Taberna, Marcos answered in the affirmative when asked if he is open to reconciling with the Dutertes, noting that he wants stability in the government. Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte were runningmates in Eleksyon 2022, with the latter being appointed as Education chief. Their relations, however, had gone sour which led to Duterte eventually quitting the Cabinet post. The rift between the Marcos and Duterte families widened after the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte due to crimes against humanity charges before the International Criminal Court, a move that was defended by the administration, saying that it only honored its commitment to the Interpol. —AOL, GMA Integrated News
